Steering-gear.



- whereby the wheel can be adjusted at a UNITED PATENT OFFICE. t

HENRY M. LOVE, OF UTICA, ANEW YORK.

STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented April 80, 1907.

Application led July 29, 1 Ei05. Serial No. 271,743.

` rovements in Steering-Gear, of which-the ollowing is a s eciiication, reference being haili therein toft efaccompanying drawings.

y ing gear for automobiles and the like, and I declare that the followingis a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof, suiiicient toenable one skilled 1n the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which'like letters and numerals refer to like parts throughout. -Insome automobiles, especially those of the heavier types, the steering is done by turning anupright shaft on .which is mounted a steering wheel. This shaft is located between the knees of the driver, the wheel being immediately in front of him.

The purpose of my invention' is to provide a steerlng mechanism by which the shaft can be placed at one'side of the driver so as to be out of his way in case of accident and at the same time to provide a steering wheel in front of him, but which can be instantly ushed out ofthe way', or even swung around 1n front of the next seat.

lthe'wheel may bey given any desired pitch and elevation. In addition I provide means greater or less distance from the shaft.' In other words, I remove the shaft from in front of the driver, but provide a steering wheel which can be adjusted to any position 'or plane, .the moving of whichk relative to the shaft does not turn the shaft, so that it is not necessary to hold the wheel rigidly in position relative to the shaft, but only on its own axis or bearing, and, furthermore, by which in case of accident the wheel will be instantly thrown frombefore the driver.

The deviceis applicable to differentniechanisms. usually located beneath the vehicle body, not here shown, but by which the condition's of a positive steering mechanism are,

met. These conditions, it should 'be noted, are not disturbed bythe present device.

invention relates to an improved steer- I pro ose a conn struction by which the steering w eel can be In the drawings attached hereto, I illusk trate the invention in a single form, but to the particulars of which I do not limit myself, merely disclosing one forni which the invention may be given. i

hFi ure 1 is a partly sectional side view of t e arm thereon and the steering wheel, and also showing the lines of the casing or cover which is provided to inclose the arts. Fig.

`2 is a detail view of parts not fu ly shown in Fig. 1. Fig'. 3 is a view in detail of the connectiOns between extensible parts. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the mounting of the steering wheel.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A represents the steering shaft. I do not show the parts which are connected with the lower end of this shaft as they are immaterial here and well known. Itmay be noted that those parts can -be readily adjusted to effect the proper movement of the vehicle wheels relative to the steering wheel without relying upon the gears in thek apparatus which I show to regulate that matter and that they may include the features of a positive mechanism, vso called.

On the head of the shaft I mount beveled ear 1. This gear has a head piece or stud 2 fixed thereon or integral therewith or with the shaft A.

S is a tubular arm having mounted on one end beveled ear 4 to engage gear 1.

5 is a tubu ar arm adapted to telescope in arm 3 and having a lu r 5a to travel in a slot provided in arm 3 to ecp the arm 5 from turning; otherwise the device shown in Fig. 3

may be used. On arm 5 I mount beveled gear 6. The armA is extended-beyond the beveled gear and suplports the collar 7 which is loosely mounted t ereon, the end of arm 5 being shghtly upset so as tohold collar 7 on. O n collar-7 is an upright member 8 integral with or fixed thereto.

VOn the part 8 is mounted sleeve l0 flared at its lower endl()a and -to which is suitably fixed beveled gear 9, meshing with gear 6. Collar 10 is suitably mounted to be turned on the part 8, but held against lifting therefrom. 11 .is a like sleeve which is slipped into'sleeve 10 an-d carries the steering wheel or handle.

In Fig. 3 is shown how the sleeves maybe evice, showing the main'shaft with an IOO bengcorrespondingly ribbed. atl1-ttoh'keep- I and ribsmaybe provided for, the main shaft-|' '.A to provide further raising or lowering, "and 'also in the. arms 3 andand-Z() and 21'.-V It/is thus seen -that I haveprovided the, necessary gearing for turning sha-ft' A by f means of Wheel 12.` AIf the arm-formed of partsl Sand is around 'the shaft it is turned 'axially and thereby, gtl ie steering wheel is turned just' enough to keep .itsrela-v tive positionin the hands ofthe'driver since; vI providefthe same number of-teethin eachof the -gears described. In case of a jaroi' Athe Vvehiclev so' as to'eausev a slight-forward 2O movement of the hands orabod'y, the'wheels of the vehicle are not turned since that'can [be done onlyjbyturning the wheel on its axis and not by swinging'the armfaroun'd the steering shaft.- -So the steering .wheel may `be swung in case it isfnecessary to throw it from beforethe driver or to permit another to steer. y y The parts Sand 5 arel designed to telescope so that the .distance Aof the Wheelirom the shaft may be adjusted.- To secure a given adjustment tlieouterI end'vof arm 3' is slotted longitudinally andthreaded onla bevel. 'A hand-nut 3f" is provided to clamp the slotted., arm 3 upon 'arm 5. The 'creases and ribs shown in F igf, 3 may be used il' preferred vand lug 5a be omitted. i l' I provide a casing forthe parts which has a'iunction'also in holding the inclosed parts in position; v B shows in cross section the c asing applied to the head of the steering shaft,'and which may be given any suitableform, but here 'h as the general outline of an Velbow joint.

On the inner faeemay Abe a Aringlike bleek l) to receive theupper en'd of stud 2. 101i the shaft 'A is loosely mounted a threaded collar a to engage with one'of the threadedopen-4 ings, of the ease B, it bearing against ther-,ollar a fixed on the steering shaft A so to permit the shaft to turn" in -the Acellar While"- the latter holds the case B in place at that.

point; On the-arm 3 is a similar collar c to y engage the corres onding threaded opening 'of the case and w i'ieh hears'on the 'collar cf 'on' the shaft 3 so as to permit theshaft .to tu-rn freely, but hold bar-3 and Vthe gear 4 inV -4 place. At. the gouter end of Athefarm 5 'isa similar case formed of parts D'and E adapted to ittogether around its lcircumference, eaeh having the vsemitubul armember d' and@l respeetivelir," which are screw-threaded to receive collar Ef to hold parts E 'and l) together, and shown in Fig. 1 where the nut 10D is not shown but is located above collar f the point at which the Alt. It is evident that the fitting of these parts or irictll be'tweenr-them may-be such as. to 'maintain the arm-and Wheel-in a given position.

- .As-the steering shaft, A, some times'rises 'vertically and at-other times obliq'nely, it is desirable -tov have means vfor adjusting-the plane of the steeringwheel in' combinationv 'with the other parts to enable thefdriv'er to desire.'v this, Whieh also"f'i ddsxto` the rigidity'- 'and strength of the' device. .I provide tubular members 2() and 21' Whih fit into4 each-other, *the latterhaving-stud 21 a vt'ol slide in a-slo't'2 1b; j

in the other member so that the two maybe and111 ifpreierred. 'The inner end of memvadjusted longitudinally but be held aXially'."' They may -becreased and ribbed as parts 10;

ber 2()v is piereedto bep'ut 'over stud-"2101ir v which it is held bynuts 2a in position, yet so" as to permit i-t to swing.A .Th'e outer end'of member 21 is threaded and projects slightl y beyond #sleeve 'iyhi-eh" is' apertured' on one portion'to slip .over parts' and 1-0 and thereby hold gear 9 relative to which-vit is secured bynuts-2`2a`.

axially, owing to their mounting on Vstud 2 and their connection, and as 'braeket'22 may be iixedon member 2 1 and engages-'the parte* 8 and 1'0which engage-the Wheel'supp'ort, it

f. I provide. bracket" 2-2 and its mount in placegand the other portion'- y isapertured vto' receive the en d of member '21 ispossible 'to'adjust the wheel latany angle.`

This adjustment need not be -iiXed but nuts 2 2a may be -loos` enough topermit the'wheel to' be turned toany plane by the vuse of Aa little force In `ease it fis desired to use the device -for steering by the swing of thear'm o'n the shaft,

means maybe used to fixgears 1 and 4toroc gether; One method is by mounting a -b'olt 3Q, Fig. 1,' to slide through gear Atand into a v recess in gear 1, the'bolt being 'carried ina bore in the caseand suitably 'mountedfand IIO adapted for the purpose. Other mechanical means may liepreferredfor this purpose" and can be readily adapted. Theshaft'A and arm 3 m-ay'benotchedor marked to indicate gears regis-ter with the bolt.

Having described my invention, what 4I Claim as' new `and desire to secure by Letters 1. A steering device comprising a shaft, a handle, an arm supporting the handle eecen- -trie'to the shaft and having operative means whereby the arm may be freely swung about the shaft Without releasingliold of the 'handle and withou't'turuing the shaft, substantially y as deseribed.

' 2,4 In* a device of' the -e'haracteidescribed a'steermg shaft, an arm pivot-allymounted f to swing about the shaft, a steering handle,

revolubly mounted onfthe arm, and operay for changing the direction of the vehicle, an

arm pivotally mounted to swing about the .said `means and a hand-steering means described.

I6. In a device of the character described mounted on the arm, the said arm being adapted to swing and maintain the same position of the hand-steering means to-the operator, substantially as described.

4. In a steering device, an extensible shaft, an arm swingably mounted thereon and a handle mounted on'the arm by members adjustable to regulate the position of the handle, substantiallyT as described.

5. In a device of the character described, mechanism to change .the direction of the vehicle, means connected therewith and provided with a hand-steering member and being mounted to permit swinging of the same without turning the hand-steering member and adapted to operate the steering mechanism upon 'the turning of said member, and said'hand-steering member, substantially as comprising a shaft, an extensible arm pivotally mounted thereon, hand-steering means mounted on the arm by extensible connections whereby to adjust the length of the arm and the height of the hand-steering means, substantially as shown.`

7. In a device of the character described, an extensible steering shaft, an extensible arm pivoted thereon and an extensible handsteering means the said members coperating whereby the position of the hand-steering means relative to the steering shaft may' be adjusted, substantially as shown.

8. In a device of the character described, provided with an extensible steering shaft, an extensible arm and steering handle-means `having an extensible mounting on the. arm, sald mounting being axially adjustable relai tive to the arm, substantially as shown.

9. In a device of the character described,

mechanism for changing the direction of the' vehicle, means for operating said mechanism by hand, the said means being normally before the operator but adapted to swing from said position, and said several members being constructed to permit universal adjustment of the said hand means, substantially as shown. l L

10. A steering device comprisinga steering shaft, an arm and a handle, gears connecting the shaft and the arm/and' gears connecting the arm and the handle whereby the arm and handle may be swung freely around the shaft Without turning the shaft, the handle maintaining. an unchanged position in the' hand of the operator, and whereby the shaft may be turned from the handle at any position thereof in its swing aroundthe shaft, substantially as described.

11. A steering device comprising a steering shaft, an arm and a handle, gears connect-ing the shaft and the arm and gears connecting the arm and the handle whereby the arm and handle may be swung freely around the shaft without'turning the shaft, the hany dle maintaining an unchanged position in the hand of theoperator, and whereby the shaft may be turned from the handle at any osltion thereof in its swing around the siaft,l

and extension and adjusting means whereby to locate the handle and fix its plane of operation, substantially as described.

12. A steering device comprising a steering shaft, an arm and a handle, gears connecting the shaft and the arm and gears connecting the arm and the handle whereby the arm and handle may be swung freely around the shaft without turning the shaft, the handle maintaining an unchanged position in the hand of the operator, and whereby the shaft may be turned from the handle vat any Osition thereof in its swing laround the s1aft,

and means for locking the arm and the shaft together, substantially as described.v

13. In a vehicle, a shaft, a steering handle mounted laterally thereto and means connecting the two to permit adjustment of the handle relative to the shaft and the operation of the handle in different planes and at different angles, substantially as described.

14. In a vehicle, steering mechanism and means for operating the same, the said means being adapted to swing freely on its bearing .on the steering mechanism without affecting the steering mechanism and constructed to operate the same by the turning of the said steering means on its mounting, lsubstantially as described.

15. In a vehicle, a steering mechanism,

IOO

IIO

ing said mechanism or disarranging the grasp of said means. A

17. In a steering device, a shaft, a handle eccentric thereto, and means sup orting the handle on the shaft and operative y connecting the two'whereby the handle may be swung around the shaft without turning itl and whereby the turning of the handle on its mounting is operative to turn the shaft.

18. In a `vehicle, a steering mechanism, means to oiperate the same from any point in acircle, t e said means being adapted to swring freely '1n said circle, and means'nori mallyjto maintain the latter in agiven positin in the said circle.

. 19. In a vehicle, a steering mechanism, by hand, the said means bei normally 'bemeans to 'e erate the same from any point in fore the operator but adapteto Vswing fiom a eirc1e, t e said means being adapted tovv said position without affecting the rst said swing freely in said circle, and' means no rmechanism. 45n1al1y to maintain the latterv in a given osi- Vtionin the said circle, and means normahy to i in presence of two Witnesses.

v'maintain the handle in. a inen position. l i A HENRY M. LGVE,

2O. In a device of the le aracter described, i Witnesses: mechanism fos-.changing kthe diiection of a i H; C. BUCK;

f IO. Vehicle7 means for operating said mechanism i E. T.. DE GIORGI.

In testimony whereof I an my signature i 5 

